Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.



Rangers at Pointe Du Hoc 1944

MSW crew-mate Alec Cap (bigal07) sends in an action packed diorama scene in 1/35 scale, entitled Rangers at Pointe Du Hoc 1944 in this "On Display" Feature.




Teen sailor Abby Sunderland abandons nonstop around-the-world quest
Source: GrindTV

Abby Sunderland, one of two 16-year-old girls on different quests to sail around the world alone, nonstop and unassisted, has announced she will head to Cape Town, South Africa, to repair a faulty autopilot system.

The high-school junior from Thousand Oaks, Calif., stressed on her blog that she will continue her journey after making repairs and seek to become simply the youngest person to solo-circumnavigate the planet in a sailboat.

Jessica Watson, Sunderland's Australian counterpart, is expected to complete her nonstop circumnavigation attempt in late May. Watson, who is five months older than Sunderland, is enduring severe weather aboard her 34-foot pink sailboat as she travels beneath Australia en route to her finish point at Sydney Harbor. Watson left Sydney last October.

Sunderland, who departed from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, in early February aboard a 40-foot vessel, has been experiencing trouble with her autopilot system for the past several weeks, including during a precarious passage around treacherous Cape Horn at South America's tip.

Autopilots are supposed to hold a sailor's course but Sunderland's primary and backup units have been faulty. At one point recently, in rough seas and freezing temperatures, the intrepid mariner had to hand-steer from the stern deck for 24 consecutive hours.

She stated on her blog that it'd be "foolish and irresponsible" to transition from the South Atlantic to a long and potentially rollicking Indian Ocean stretch without fully operational equipment.

"I gave it my best shot and made it almost halfway around the world," she said. "I will definitely keep going, and whether or not I will make any more stops after this I don't know."

Laurence Sunderland, Abby's father, said in an interview that his daughter has "matured considerably as a sailor and a person" while working tirelessly to keep her boat, Wild Eyes, on course in the monotonously gray, topsy-turvy and bitter-cold region east of Cape Horn.

Laurence Sunderland will fly to Cape Town and help Abby with repairs when she arrives in 10-12 days.

The father added that Abby's older brother Zac made 13 stops "and still became a hero" during a solo-circumnavigation he completed, at 17, last July.

Zac briefly held the distinction of being the youngest person to have sailed around the world alone. England's Mike Perham currently holds that distinction.

To put these adventures into perspective, more than 3,000 people have successfully climbed Mt. Everest during the past 56 years. According to the American Sailing Assn., fewer than 250 people have sailed alone around the world since Joshua Slocum logged the first documented solo-circumnavigation in 1898.


Selection of Electronic Warfare System for Air Warfare Destroyer
Source: Australian Department of Defense

Greg Combet, Minister for Defense Materiel and Science, today announced that the Air Warfare Destroyer Alliance has selected ITT–EDO Reconnaissance and Surveillance Systems, Inc as the preferred supplier for the electronic warfare system for the Hobart-Class Air Warfare Destroyers (AWDs).

“This is a modern electronic warfare system that uses proven technology and delivers the right capability and value for money. The solution also involves Australian companies and incorporates home-grown technology,” Mr Combet said.

“Electronic warfare covers the detection and classification of radar transmissions and the interception of communications signals. This system will allow the AWD to gain increased awareness of land, air and seaborne threats, giving the AWDs a capability edge.

“The ITT solution is based upon equipment used by several navies from around the world. The equipment includes the ITT ES-3701-02S system for the detection and identification of radars, and the Southwest Research Institute MBS-567A system for intercepting communication signals.”

ITT is teaming with Jenkins Engineering Defense Systems, Sydney, and Ultra Electronics Avalon Systems, Adelaide to deliver its solution.

“This strongly supports the Australian Government’s objectives for Priority Industry Capabilities in the area of electronic warfare, by enhancing the knowledge and capability of local industry in this important area.”

“Avalon Systems will be upgrading its multi-purpose digital receiver and integrating it with the ITT system. Jenkins Engineering will supply its low band receiver, integrate and conduct land-based testing of the complete system in Australia.”

“Jenkins Engineering will also install and test the equipment in the AWDs. This work will build upon their experience with the ITT equipment fitted to the Collins class submarines, extending their capability to support latest generation electronic warfare systems.”

The value of the contract is worth around A$30 million.




Fire Scout Returns from First Operational Deployment
Source: US Navy

MAYPORT, Fla. --- The MQ-8B Fire Scout, a Vertical Takeoff and Landing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VTUAV), returned from its first operational deployment April 15.

The VTUAV was embarked aboard USS McInerney (FFG during their recent six-month deployment to the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) Area of Responsibility.

Fire Scout is an autonomously controlled helicopter used by McInerney to scan waters for drug smugglers.

Senior Chief Aviation Electronics Technician (AW/SW) Stephen Diets, the fleet liaison for Fire Scout and one of the first enlisted air vehicle operators (AVO), said Fire Scout has the advantage of being able to hover unlike traditional Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV).

McInerney is the first ship to support Fire Scout-one of the Navy's newest unmanned flight technologies.

"It's one of the Navy's newest systems, we brought it to bear on the mission, and it has challenged us to think in new ways to accomplish our goals," said Cmdr. Paul Young, McInerney's commanding officer.

McInerney is the first ship to make a drug bust using a VTUAV with a drug interdiction April 3. Fire Scout was on a post-maintenance check flight when the operators spotted suspected narcotics smugglers.

"We got the first Fire Scout drug bust on the deployment, it was very exciting, and it's mostly thanks to all the hard work by the air detachment's maintainers," said Diets.

The ship's crew also shared in the excitement of the bust. "It's exciting to make a bust, when you stop the drugs and put people in jail it really defines our whole mission, it makes it all worth being out here, and this bust was groundbreaking," said Command Master Chief John T. Lawry, McInerney's command master chief.

The VTUAV, while on deployment, was kept up and running thanks to the maintenance crew of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light 42 Det. 7, who served as McInerney's air support.

According to Lt. Tobias Walters, lead AVO with HSL-42 Det. 7, Fire Scout did well during its first deployment. "I think the deployment was a success, we were able to operate in a shipboard environment and even got the first successful drug bust, I think we proved that Fire Scout is an asset that can bring the Navy success in the future," said Walters.

Fire Scout can reach speeds of up to 85 knots, reach altitudes of 20,000 feet and fly for more than six hours on one tank of gas. It has officially completed its first operational deployment and according to Walters, it is a technology that will integrate well with today's Navy.

This Day in U.S. Naval History

1921 - U.S. Naval Detachment left Yugoslavia after administering area around Spalato for two years to guarantee transfer of area from Austria to new country.
1952 - USS Hobson (DMS 26) sinks after colliding with USS Wasp (CV 18); 176 lives lost.,

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